States Seek to Freeze Trump Water Rule as Effective Date Looms

California and other states are urging a federal court to sideline the Trump administration’s divisive water jurisdiction rule.

A 17-state coalition on Monday asked the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to block the Navigable Waters Protection Rule while they spar with government lawyers over its legality.

The Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers published the rule in April, and it officially takes effect June 22, tightening the federal definition for the types of wetlands and waterways the Clean Water Act covers.

The state challengers filed suit May 1, saying the regulation violates the Administrative...